Adab al-Mufrad

Benefits and Issues:
➊. The phrase mentioned in the chain of narration of the aforementioned hadith, «صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّار», clarifies that building a house or similar things is not contrary to asceticism (zuhd) and piety (taqwa), and it also hints that it is preferable to address a teacher by a relational title rather than by name.
➋. When Imam Bukhari rahimahullah mentions only "Abdullah" while discussing the Companions in his book, he means Abdullah ibn Mas'ud radi Allahu anhu.
➌. The fact that Ibn Mas'ud radi Allahu anhu asked this question shows how eager and desirous the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum were for goodness.
➍. The word «أَحَبُّ» indicates that the ranks of deeds themselves are different; some deeds are more virtuous in degree, while others are less so. Just as the ranks of deeds can differ due to changes in persons, times, and places.

Point: ....
In some narrations, it is reported that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: «أَفْضَلُ الأَعْمَالِ إِيْمَانٌ بِاللّٰهِ», and at other times he said: «أَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ اِدْخَالُ السُّرُوْرِ عَلَي مُؤْمِنٍ», meaning that when he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam wanted to mention the virtue of a particular deed and highlight its importance, he would use the word «أَفْضَلُ، أَحَبُّ». However, it should be remembered that among bodily acts of worship, the most virtuous and «أَحَبُّ إِلَي اللّٰهِ» deed is the prayer (salah), and among beliefs, the most virtuous and «أَحَبُّ إِلَي اللّٰهِ» deed is faith in Allah (iman billah). And Allah knows best. [فتح الباري: ۲؍۱۴]

➎. Performing the prayer (salah) at its appointed time is the most virtuous deed in the sight of Allah, and the determination of its time has been clarified by the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in other hadiths. In one narration, it is stated that performing the prayer at its earliest time is the most virtuous deed. [صحيح الترغيب والترهيب، ح: ۳۹۹]
And it is more virtuous to delay the ‘Isha prayer, as is explicitly stated in other hadiths. If the prayer is delayed due to sleep or forgetfulness, it will be considered performed, but it will not attain the highest degree of virtue.

➏. Prayer (salah) is the right of Allah, which is why the right of the True Creator was mentioned first. After that, the rights of parents are given precedence, as is evident from the statement of Allah the Exalted: ﴿وَ قَضٰی رَبُّكَ اَلَّا تَعْبُدُوْا اِلَّآ اِیَّاهُ وَ بِالْوَالِدَیْنِ اِحْسَانًا﴾ [بني اسرائيل: ۲۳]
Therefore, when Ibn Mas'ud radi Allahu anhu asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which deed is most beloved to Allah after this?" he replied: "To treat parents with excellence." The Arabic word «برّ» is used, which means to do good to them, maintain family ties, and fulfill their rights.
By using the word «ثُمَّ», it is indicated that the rights of Allah should not be neglected under the pretext of fulfilling the rights of parents; rather, the rights of Allah are to be given precedence. If parents become an obstacle in fulfilling the rights of Allah, then they are not to be obeyed, as is clear from the context of the verse revealed for this chapter. This is as follows: When Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu accepted Islam, his mother swore that she would not speak to him until he renounced Islam, and she even stopped eating and drinking, to the point that she began to faint from severe hunger and thirst. Sa'd radi Allahu anhu presented this matter before the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and Allah the Exalted revealed the following verse:
﴿وَ وَصَّیْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَیْهِ حُسْنًا وَ اِنْ جَاهَدٰكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِیْ مَا لَیْسَ لَكَ بِهٖ عِلْمٌ فَـلَا تُطِعْهُمَا﴾ [العنكبوت: ۸]
"And We have enjoined upon man to do good to his parents. But if they strive to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then do not obey them."
And included in the meaning of the word «برّ» is that good treatment of parents should be done with heartfelt joy. Just as parents do not feel any distress or hardship while raising and nurturing their children, likewise, children should not feel any aversion in serving their parents, no matter how knowledgeable or virtuous they may be, because parents are the very cause of a person's existence, and whatever they do for their children, the children cannot even repay a fraction of it.
It should be noted that the statement of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam....... «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» is an explanation of Allah the Exalted's statement: ﴿أَنِ اشْکُرْلِيْ وَلِوَالِدَیْكَ﴾ "That is, be grateful to Me and to your parents."
Ibn ‘Uyaynah rahimahullah, while distinguishing between gratitude to Allah and gratitude to parents, used to mention the statement of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam:
«مَنْ صَلَّي الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ فَقَدْ شَكَرَ اللّٰهَ، وَمَنْ دَعَا لِوَالِدَيْهِ عَقِبَهَا فَقَدْ شَكَرَلَهُمَا.» [فتح الباري: ۲؍۱۵]
"Whoever performed the five prayers has shown gratitude to Allah, and whoever, after performing the five prayers, supplicates for good for his parents, it is as if he has shown gratitude to his parents."

➐. For the third time, Ibn Mas'ud radi Allahu anhu asked which deed is most beloved to Allah after that, and he replied: "Then striving (jihad) in the path of Allah."
Jihad is derived from «جهد», which means exertion. In the legal (shar‘i) terminology, jihad refers to the effort made to exalt the word of Allah and to implement His commands. Its clearest form is to fight the disbelievers to prevent oppression and to remove obstacles in the path of monotheism (tawhid). Our noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam engaged in jihad against the disbelievers throughout almost the entire Madinan period, and the noble Companions and the Rightly Guided Caliphs continued this practice. Standing firm on the truth and conveying it to others is also included in the definition of jihad. Restraining oneself from sin and being patient in obedience to Allah the Exalted is also jihad. The Prophetic hadith is:
«اَلْمُجَاهِدُ مَنْ جَاهَدَ نَفْسَهٗ فِي اللّٰهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ»
"The true mujahid is the one who strives against his own self for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic." [صحيح الترغيب والترهيب، ح: ۱۲۱۸]
Giving jihad the third rank is not due to its lack of importance; rather, jihad is in fact dependent on the first two matters, because jihad is undertaken to establish faith and prayer. If a person's prayer is not correct, then his jihad is also deficient. Whoever cannot strive against his own self, how will he strive against others? The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: «أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتي شهدوا ان لا اله الا اللہ» As for parents, jihad is conditional upon their permission and approval, as is clarified by many hadiths.

➑. This hadith also indicates that whoever does not safeguard the prayer will neglect other commands as well. And whoever cannot do good to his parents, others should not expect any good from him. Whoever cannot strive against the disbelievers, how can he prevent the sinful and wicked from evil?

➒. At the end, Ibn Mas'ud radi Allahu anhu states that if he had asked further, the Prophet would have mentioned even more such deeds. In Sahih Muslim, it is clarified that he did not ask further out of fear that the Prophet might become weary.
This points to the necessity of respecting and considering the teacher, and that one should not ask unnecessary questions of a scholar. If a teacher gives a brief answer to a student's question without further elaboration, that is also acceptable.
At the end of this hadith, the word «لَوْ» is used, whereas in another hadith it is stated:
«أَنَّ لَوْ تَفْتَحُ عَمَلَ الشَّيْطَانِ» [صحيح مسلم، كتاب القدر، باب الإيمان بالقدر والإذعان له، رقم: ۶۷۷۴۔ صحيح ابن حبان، رقم: ۵۶۹۲]
that «لو» is the work of Satan.
These two hadiths can be reconciled as follows: Using it (i.e., the phrase) without belief in divine decree (qada wa qadar) is not correct, but if a person believes in predestination, then using «لَو» in some beneficial matters is permissible. In other words, saying it out of displeasure or distrust in predestination is prohibited, but there is no harm in saying it out of regret for missing a good deed.